Search Results for: FN FAL

The FN FAL rifle (Fusil Automatique Leger – Light Automatic Rifle) is one of the most famous and widespread military rifle designs of the 20th century. The FN FAL was developed by the Belgian Fabrique Nationale company. It has been in service with some 70 or more countries and was manufactured in at least 10…

 Experimental rifle, made at FN in 1937, which later evolved into FN-49 rifle.  FN-49, Venezuela contract rifle (chambered for 7mm Mauser cartridge).    Same rifle, another side view.    Upper handguard removed, showing the gas chamber, piston and a gas piston return spring.   Calibers: 7×57 mm, 7.65×57 mm, 7.92x57mm, .30-06 (7.62x63mm) Action: Gas operated,…

  Caliber  7.65×53, 7×57, 7.62×63 (.30-06),7.92×57, 7.62×51 Weight 9.2 kg Length 1143 mm Barrel length 500 mm Feed  Box magazine, 20 rounds Rate of fire 400 or 700 rounds per minute   The FN Browning Automatic Rifle model D, often referred to simply as “FN Model D” or “FN Type D” or just “FN D”…

FN F2000 assault rifle, in standard configuration, with telescope sight FN F2000 assault rifle, in “Tactical” configuration, with Picatinny rail and back-up open sights FN F2000 assault rifle, with telescope sight and 40 mm. FN EGLM grenade launcher FN F2000 assault rifle, in standard configuration, disassembled into major components FN FS2000, a semiautomatic-only version for…

The M14 rifle was officially adopted by the US military in 1957 and was replaced in service as a primary infantrymen’s rifle in 1967, making it the shortest-serving American military rifle. Its development, production, and service were plagued by numerous problems, and the M14 can be considered the example study case of how not to…

The Armalite AR-10 rifle was designed in USA between 1954 and 1956 as a military rifle, using advanced aircraft industry materials and technologies, primarily aluminum alloys and plastics. It was primarily designed by the Eugene Stoner, a chief engineer of the Armalite division of the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation.   In 1956 the new…

By Maxim Popenker The “new age of bullpup rifles” began in late ninety seventies, when two major European militaries officially adopted new 5.56mm assault rifles specifically designed in bullpup configuration. Those were Steyr AUG, adopted by Austrian military as Stg.77, and GIAT FAMAS, adopted by French army as FAMAS F1. The key reason for this…

By Maxim Popenker     This article is about history of bullpup evolution from the end of WW2 and until early 1970s, stopping just before adoption of two first really mass produced bullpup rifles – Austrian Steyr AUG and French FAMAS. In previous article we briefly examined early history of bullpup small arms, from Thorneycroft and…

Gas operated action, that is, automatic or self-loading gun systems that use the high pressure powder gases released by the exploding cartridge to cycle the action after each shot, are quite old. Therefore their maturity period was noticeably longer than the maturity period for most other successful automatic gun actions which utilise the recoil impulse to cycle the gun. The key…

  Text by Maxim Popenker, © 2014   The term “Assault Rifle”, despite its widespread use, is still controversial, because general agreement is not yet there on exactly what it means. The concept of an assault rifle first became well known towards the end of WW2 and shortly after,  as a political/propaganda measure on the part of Adolf Hitler, although both the…

The IA2 5.56 assault rifle was developed by Brazilian state-owned IMBEL arms factory between 2008 and 2012. It was officially adopted by Brazilian military in October of 2013, and entered initial production. The IMBEL IA2 5.56 assault rifle is based on earlier rifles from IMBEL, from 7.62 mm. Fz.968 (license-built FN FAL) through 5.56 mm….

EM-2 assault rifle, officially adopted in Britain as Rifle, Automatic, No.9 Mk.1 but never put into service. Note that the backup sights are in raised position. EM-1 prototype assault rifle. EM-2 disassembled into major components. From let to right: British experimental .280 (7x43mm) cartridge for EM-2; Soviet 7.62x39mm M43; US/NATO 5.56x45mm (.223 Rem); US/NATO 7.62x51mm…